Flaxseed’s eyes lit up at once. He examined the Saintess from head to toe as though meant to see straight through her, a lascivious glint sparked in his gaze, and drool almost slipped from the corner of his mouth.
He chuckled, “Word is, the Saintess of Bloodshadow Palace possesses remarkable skills in bed. I’ve long wished to verify those tales. They call me the man who can go ten rounds in a night, perhaps I could win your favor?”
Flaxseed made no attempt to hide the provocation in his tone.
The Saintess snorted coldly. “Shameless!”
With a casual lift of hand, a streak of bloody light shot straight for Flaxseed’s face.
He neither dodged nor flinched; his hand fan snapped up to block the attack with a muffled clang, and at the impact, the scarlet beam dispersed.
“Wow, wow, Saintess, surely there’s no need for anger?” Flaxseed smiled. “I admire you greatly, that’s all. I simply had to meet you in person!”
A flicker of surprise flashed across eyes.
That strike just now had been far from full strength, yet even a Level Eight Wandering Immortal would have struggled to block it so casually.
Who is this unremarkable old man, to deflect me with such ease?
“Just who are you?” demanded, suddenly alert.
Flaxseed opened his mouth to answer, but Jared’s voice rang out first, “Saintess, Destiny Sect lies in ruins. Bloodshadow Palace is next. If you know what’s good for you, surrender every resource you possess, then have your disciples take off their clothes and assemble for Mr. Flaxseed’s inspection. Do that, and I might consider granting you a painless end.”
Her pupils contracted. “Who do you think you are, you nobody?!”
As far as could tell, Jared was only a Level Five Wandering Immortal, yet dared to voice such outrageous threats!
Yes, the women of Bloodshadow Palace had all slept with men and cultivated arts that borrowed positive energy to nourish negative energy, but ordering them to disrobe before an old man to be humiliated?
Absolutely impossible.
Golden light blazed in Jared’s eyes. “A nobody, am I? Very well, because of that, Bloodshadow Palace dies today!”
The Saintess suddenly laughed, a melodious sound laced with murderous intent. “You few dream of destroying Bloodshadow Palace? Keep dreaming!”
Her fingers raced through a rapid seal. The entire palace shook, dark blood welled from the ground and gathered overhead as countless scarlet arrows.
“Bloodshadow Grand Formation, activate!”
The arrows rained down like a crimson tempest, blotting out the sky as they streaked toward Jared’s group.
Jared lifted his hand to strike, but Flaxseed shouted, “We agreed this one’s mine!”
Both his hands flung out charms in a blur. A golden barrier unfolded at once, catching every arrow. Each shaft hissed as it struck against the screen, corrosive energy sizzling, yet not one of them broke through.
“Huh?” Astonishment crossed the Saintess’ face. “You can actually block my Bloodshadow Arrows?”
Flaxseed let out a mischievous chuckle. “Saintess, how about a little bet?”
“What kind of bet?”
“If I win, you spend one night with me. If I lose, my fate is yours to decide.” He winked lecherously.
Fury twisted smile. “Die, then!”
Her figure blurred into a streak of blood and lunged straight for Flaxseed. Her ten fingertips suddenly lengthened into scarlet blades, all aimed at his throat.
Unhurried, Flaxseed flicked out another charm. A complete Circle of Duality unfurled before him.
Her claws slammed into the swirling pattern and sank as though into mire, their force leeched away.
“Duality Force Dissipation?” She sneered. “Let’s see how much you can dissipate!”
In the blink of an eye, split into eight clones, attacking from every direction. Each clone looked so real that telling the original from the copies was impossible.
From a distance, Everett frowned. “The Saintess has fully mastered Bloodshadow Clones technique, Mr. Flaxseed might be in trouble…”
Jared allowed a faint, knowing smile to tug at the corner of his lips. “Don’t underestimate that lecherous old goat, conceals his true strength frighteningly well.”
Sure enough, when the eight Bloodshadow Clones lunged at from every direction, Flaxseed’s playful grin vanished, and his entire bearing changed abruptly, becoming grave and razor-sharp.
He brought both hands together into a series of intricate seals, chanting under his breath, “Heaven-Earth Invocation, Five-Element Cycle!”
In an instant, five shimmering colors blazed around him. The elemental powers of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth churned in an endless loop, knitting themselves into a flawless protective barrier.
The Bloodshadow Clones slammed into that barrier, only to disintegrate on contact; the Saintess’ true body alone survived the rebound but was forced back several full paces.
